Sports

Shady Side Academy players celebrate a goal by Drew McKim (second from right) during a game against
Deer Lakes on Oct. 13.

Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy soccer teams add to playoff legacy

October 23, 2021

High schools from the Lower Valley continue to experience soccer success.

Strong finish lifts Bethel Park into WPIAL girls soccer playoffs

The turnaround began last year and continued into this season.

Quarterback Max Blanc has led Bethel Park’s resurgence this season.

Bethel Park writing remarkable bounce-back tale

After shaking last year’s winless record, Bethel Park’s football team played its way to a WPIAL playoff berth with four impressive midseason victories.

Plum’s Zach Miller (62) celebrates his goal with Travis Marks during their game against Wheeling Catholic on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at Pittsburgh Ice Arena.

Young lineup off to strong start for Plum hockey

The Plum varsity hockey team won just one game last year in a 2020-21 season that was unlike any other in the history of the PIHL with delays, restrictions and numerous changes overall because of the covid pandemic.

Norwin’s Hunter Hardy plays against Greensburg Salem on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021 at Kirk S. Nevin Arena

Norwin hockey program moving in right direction

Norwin second-year hockey coach Mike Robinson lists his team’s strengths in this order:

North Hills’ Noah Benscoter returns for his sophomore season.

North Hills hockey hopes last year’s strong finish carries over

North Hills hockey was able to close out last year’s regular season as strong as any team in the PIHL’s Class A. But now the program wants more following a crushing ending.

The North Allegheny girls volleyball team is the four-time defending PIAA champion.

Rare defeat helped North Allegheny girls volleyball players refocus

The winning streak had stood at 57 section victories when the North Allegheny girls volleyball team saw its unbeaten run stunningly end this season.

North Allegheny’s Sophia Palermo battles Seneca Valley’s Natalie Matthews for a header during their game on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, in McCandless.

North Allegheny notebook: Tigers girls soccer team earns top seed

The two-time defending champion North Allegheny girls soccer team again is the favorite to win the WPIAL Class 4A title after earning the No. 1 seed for the district playoffs.

Franklin Regional’s Gwen Shilling plays against Penn-Trafford last season.

Franklin Regional notebook: Girls golf team wraps up another strong season

Based on the level of competition at the WPIAL Class 3A girls team golf finals, coach Kane Daignault was thrilled to see his Franklin Regional team card a top-five finish.

Hampton’s Sophie Kelly celebrates a penalty against Franklin Regional during a game on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at Frildey Field in Hampton.

Hampton 3-sport standout Kelly helps guide girls soccer team to WPIAL playoff berth

Sophia Kelly had a tough decision to make this past summer.

High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 23, 2021

High schools

Westinghouse quarterback Keyshawn Morsillo throws a pass during practice on Aug. 24, 2021, in Homewood.

Westinghouse blanks University Prep to reach City League final

Keyshawn Morsillo and Khalil Taylor ran for touchdowns as Westinghouse scored a 17-0 shutout over University Prep (2-5) in the City League semifinals Friday night.

Leechburg’s Braylan Lovelace avoids the tackle attempt of Bishop Canevin’s Keshawn Harris in the first half at Leechburg’s Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.

WPIAL Class A roundup: Lovelace scores 6 TDs as Leechburg earns 1st playoff berth since ’88

Leechburg clinched its first playoff appearance since 1988 by earning a 66-6 victory over Imani Christian (2-6, 1-5) in the WPIAL Class A Eastern Conference on Friday night.

Laurel running back Luke McCoy works out during practice on Aug. 4, 2021.

WPIAL Class 2A roundup: McCoy sets Laurel career rushing mark in win over Ellwood City

Luke McCoy ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns and became the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,711 career yards in leading No. 4 Laurel to a 54-13 win over Ellwood City (0-7, 0-6) in the WPIAL Class 2A Midwestern Conference on Friday night.

North Catholic quarterback Joey Prentice throws a pass during practice on Aug. 9, 2021, in Cranberry.

WPIAL Class 3A roundup: No. 2 North Catholic beats No. 5 Freeport to clinch conference title

Joey Prentice threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 2 North Catholic to a 33-7 victory over No. 5 Freeport (4-4, 3-1) in WPIAL Class 3A Allegheny Seven Conference play Friday night.

Beaver’s Liam Gibson (5) celebrates with Dylan Porto during their game against Seton-LaSalle on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Pat Tarquino Field in Beaver.

WPIAL Class 4A roundup: Beaver edges Montour in overtime

Mitch Lang caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Pupi in overtime to lift Beaver to a 14-7 victory at Montour (3-6, 1-3) in a WPIAL Class 4A Parkway Conference game Friday night.

Woodland Hills running back Brandon Jones eludes Wayne Valley defenders during the first quarter on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Wolvarena.

WPIAL Class 5A roundup: Woodland Hills beats Latrobe to clinch playoff berth

Jeremiah Ramsey returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as Woodland Hills claimed a playoff spot with a 26-17 victory in its WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference game against Latrobe (3-6, 1-3) on Friday night.

Dom Barca, left, scored twice for Norwin on Friday night.

WPIAL Class 6A roundup: Norwin takes down No. 5 Canon-McMillan

Dominic Barca ran for 124 yards and a 95-yard touchdown and caught a TD pass as Norwin scored a 16-7 upset over No. 5 Canon-McMillan (4-5, 2-4) in a WPIAL Class 6A football Friday night.